West was driving east on state Route 414 at 6:51 p.m. on Feb. 19 when he traveled off the southern shoulder of the roadway into a ditch, state police at Towanda said.

State police at Towanda issue statistics

The state police at Towanda have released their statistics for the month of February.

During February the state police at Towanda made 62 criminal arrests, they said.

During that month they investigated 108 motor vehicle accidents, in which a total of 31 people were injured, they said.

They investigated 13 hit-and-run accidents in February, they said.

They made 21 DUI arrests last month, and investigated four DUI-related crashes.

The issued 619 traffic citations last month, as well as 196 warnings, they said.

Man charged with corruption of minor

A Rome man accused of touching a juvenile girl in an improper manner is scheduled to appear for his preliminary hearing today before Magisterial District Judge Fred Wheaton,

According to information filed in Wheaton's office, Martin Robert Elliott, 51, has been charged by state police with corruption of a minor, and indecent assault. Elliott has been accused of touching a 13-year-old girl in an improper manner in Rome Township between Nov. 1 and Dec. 22, 2010.

Man faces DUI charge

A Towanda man has been sent a summons to appear before Magisterial District Judge Tim Clark to answer a charge of driving while under the influence.

According to information filed in Clark's office, Caleb Lee England, 27, of 593 Kingsley Rd., has also been charged by state police with failure to use his turn signal when changing lanes, and failure to wear his seatbelt.

Police reported that England was charged on Feb. 17, following a traffic stop on the Merrill Parkway in Towanda. Police said they noted an odor of alcohol coming from England's vehicle, and when they asked him if he had been drinking, he replied that he'd had two beers at a bar approximately an hour before.

England was placed under arrest for DUI after being asked to perform a series of field sobriety tests, police said. He was taken to Memorial Hospital in Towanda, where he agreed to submit to a blood test. The test eventually revealed that England's blood alcohol content was .108 percent on the day of his arrest.

England's preliminary hearing has been scheduled for April 8.

Man charged with burglary

A Monroeton man is scheduled to appear before Magisterial District Judge Tim Clark today to answer a charge of burglary.

According to papers filed in Clark's office, Kyle Mitchell Decker, 26, of 130 Main St., has also been charged by state police with theft by unlawful taking, and receiving stolen property.

Police reported that Decker is accused of entering the apartment of Randy McKernan in November 2009, and stealing a safe containing several articles belonging to McKernan, as well as several cans of beer.

Police reported that an investigation into the incident eventually led to charges being filed against Decker.

Decker has been released on non-monetary bail.

Monroeton man charged with Megan's Law violation

A Monroeton man was arrested by state police recently on a charge of failure to comply with the Registration of Sexual Offenders act.

According to papers filed with Magisterial District Judge Tim Clark, Thomas William Casselbury, 41, of 812 Crayton Rd., has been accuse of the above offense, commonly referred to as Megan's Law. Police said the investigated a report that Casselbury had been living at his current address for about two years, but had not informed them of his change of address when he moved there from Granville Summit. Police also reported that on May 21, 2010, Casselbury signed a document, indicating that he was residing in Granville Summit, when he was really living in Monroeton.

Casselbury was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Jonathan Wilcox, who ordered the defendant incarcerated in lieu of $65,000 bail. Casselbury's preliminary hearing is scheduled today before Judge Clark.

Man accused of simple assault

A Towanda man was cited by state police recently on a charge of simple assault.

According to information filed with Magisterial District Judge Tim Clark, Jason Michael Thetga, 29, of 3485 Plank Rd., has also been charged with harassment.

Police said that Thetga is accused of striking and injuring an unidentified person with an electrical cord on Feb. 8.

Thetga has been issued a summons to appear before Judge Clark on March 30.

Man charged with DUI

An Athens man has been sent a summons to appear before Magisterial District Judge Tim Clark to answer a charge of driving while under the influence.

According to information filed in Clark's office, Cody Cowley Hallmark, 20, of 126 Coleman Ln., has also been charged by state police with driving on the wrong side of the road, and careless driving.

Police reported being dispatched around 8:28 p.m. on Jan. 5 for a two-vehicle accident that occurred on U.S. Route 220 near Jones' RV Park in Ulster Township. When they arrived at the scene, police reported, they spoke with Hallmark, who was identified as the driver of one of the vehicles involved in the accident. Police said they detected an odor of alcohol on Hallmark's breath and person and noted that his eyes were bloodshot. A portable breath test revealed that Hallmark's blood alcohol content was approximately .168 percent at the scene, police said.

Hallmark was placed under arrest for DUI, and transported to Memorial Hospital in Towanda where he agreed to submit to a blood test. The test eventually revealed that Hallmark's blood alcohol content was .149 percent on the day of the incident.

Hallmark's preliminary hearing has been scheduled for April 13.

Forskville man faces DUI charge

A Forksville man was cited by state police recently on a charge of driving while under the influence.

According to information filed with Magisterial District Judge Tim Clark, Michael Henry Philipenko, 34, of 2107 Route 4009, Suite A, has also been charged with driving on the wrong side of the road, careless driving, and failure to wear his seatbelt.

Police reported stopping a Chevrolet Blazer on Feb. 12 on U.S Route 220 in Albany Township that was observed driving in an erratic manner. When they spoke to the driver, identified as Philipenko, police said, they observed a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person. Police said Philipenko was placed under arrest for DUI after he was unable to perform a series of field sobriety tests.

Philipenko was transported to Memorial Hospital in Towanda where he agreed to submit to a blood test. The test eventually revealed that Philipenko's blood alcohol content was .206 percent on the day of his arrest.

Philipenko has been sent a summons to appear for his preliminary hearing before Judge Clark on March 30.

No injuries reported in accident

No injuries were reported when a one-vehicle accident occurred recently in North Towanda Township.

State police reported that a 2001 Ford Excursion operated by Lisa A. Insinga, 22, of Cogan Station was heading north on March 6 on U.S. Route 220, when she lost control of the vehicle on the snow-covered road. Police said the car left the road and struck a rock embankment, then spun out back into the northbound lane. The car then rolled south off the west side of the road, before coming to rest in a ditch.

Police said both Insinga and a passenger in the vehicle were wearing seatbelts when the accident occurred, and neither were injured. Insinga will be cited because of the accident, police said.

Assisting at the scene were the North Towanda Fire Department and Benjamin's Towing.

Man cited for DUI

A Granville Summit man was cited by Towanda police recently on a charge of driving while under the influence.

According to information filed with Magisterial District Judge Tim Clark, Thomas Frank Scott, 51, of 87 Scott Ln., has also been charged with careless driving.

Police were contacted on 12:58 p.m. on Feb. 18 about a drunk driving who was entering the borough. Police said they looked for the suspected vehicle - reported as a silver Jeep Cherokee - and discovered it driving in an erratic manner on the Merrill Parkway. Stopping the vehicle, police said they detected a faint odor of alcohol coming from inside.

While speaking to the driver, identified as Scott, police said they asked him to perform a series of field sobriety tests, all of which he failed. Scott was placed under arrest for DUI, and transported to Memorial Hospital in Towanda where he agreed to submit to a blood test. The test eventually revealed that Scott's blood alcohol content was .186 percent on the day of his arrest.

Scott has been sent a summons to appear before Judge Clark on March 23 for his preliminary hearing.

Arrest on bench warrant leads to added drug charges for Sayre man

Roy Roger Bennett, 58, of Sayre, faces charges of possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of dug paraphernalia as a result of an incident on Feb. 18 in Sayre, according to documents released by the office of Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw.

According to the court documents, Bradford County Sheriff's deputies went to Bennett's place of employment with a bench warrant for non-appearance at a scheduled court hearing. While the deputies were placing him under arrest, a metal smoking device and a glass smoking device were found in Bennett's coat pocket and a plastic bag of a green leafy substance was found in his pants pocket. Bennett admitted the substance was marijuana, which was confirmed by a field test, the court papers state.

We welcome user discussion on our site, under the following guidelines:

To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.

Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.